Valve for breathing apparatus.



G. E. PERRY.

VALVE FOR BREATHING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED IAN-8,1918.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFQE.

GEORGE ELLIOT PERRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SIEBE, GORMAN & 00., LTD., OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

VALVE FOR BREATHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed January 8, 1918. Serial No. 210,812.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ELLIoT PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for Breathing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in valves for breathing apparatus and particularly to valves used in such apparatus employing a breathing bag or regenerator for purifying the exhaled air.- In such apparatus, the valves are located in the tubes between the mouth or nose piece and the breathing bag or regenerator, and usually closely adj acent the latter. As there is quite a lengthy passage in the tubes between the valves and mouth or nose piece, it will be seen that with each inhalation the user will inhale a certain amount of the air which he has previously exhaled and this of course is objectionable.

Also by placing the valves at a distance from the mouth or nose piece, saliva, moisture and the like, will pass down both the inhaling and exhaling tubes and in consequence the user will also be assimilating a certain amount of said saliva or moisture upon each inhalation.

Another objectionable feature of the devices used heretofore, was that the valves were not readily accessible for removal nor could they be quickly disassembled for cleaning purposes, to maintain them in sanitary condition.

Therefore, the main object of my invention is to so construct the valves and locate the same in the apparatus, as to obviate the defects heretofore set forth.

With the foregoing object outlined and with other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of my invention is better understood, my invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a mouth piece of a breathing apparatus showing my improved inlet and outlet valves applied directly thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the details of the outlet valve.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the details ofthe inlet valve.

In the drawings, 1 designates the mouth plece of a breathing apparatus, which in this instance comprises a curved tube 2, forming an inlet or inhaling leg 3, and an outlet or exhaling leg 4. A tubular projection 5 preferably elliptical in cross section, extends from the rear of the tube 2 intermediate its ends and is designed to be engaged by the mouth of the user, so that he may breath through said tube 2.

From Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will be observed that the inlet valve 6 is located in the leg 3 of the mouth piece and that the outlet valve 7 is arranged in the leg 4 of the same. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art, that the inlet leg 3 is connected to the inhaling pipe (not shown) from the breathing bag or regenerator (not shown) and that the exhaling leg 4 is connected to the exhaling pipe (not shown) from the breathing bag or regenerator.

The inlet valve comprises a curved tubular body portion 8 the outer surface of which conforms to the inner surface of the leg 3 and is provided at its lower end with a flange 9, whichclamps a packing washer 10 to the flanged end 11 of the leg 3, and said body portion 8 is adapted to be fastened in the leg by frictional engagement, or by an} other suitable means. The upper side of the body 8 is cut diagonally to provide a valve seat 12 and the upper end of the body terminates in a nose '13, whose upper edge extends vertically to within a short distance of the interior lower edge 14 of the tubular projection 5, so that saliva or the like entering the tube 2 from the mouth of the user, will encounter the nose 13 and will thus be prevented from entering the inlet valve 6, while it may freely flow down the leg 4 and out through the outlet valve 7 The inlet valve cover or plate is shown at 15 and this plate conforms to the valve seat 12 vand is provided on its upper side with a spring metal strip 16, which is fastened to the cover at 17 and has its inner end bent upon itself to form a U-shaped leaf spring 18 which bears upon the inner surface of the inlet leg 3 for normally retaining the plate 15 in closed position, but which is sufficiently delicate in construction to permit the plate to readily open upon inhalation by the user. In order to secure the plate to the valve body 8, I have provided said body with a staple 19 which passes through a slot 20in theplate and is locked by means of a spring catch 21 formed by bending the outer end of the strip 16 vertically into U-shape. When it is desired to secure the plate 15 to the valve body 8, the Ushaped portion of the catch 21 is grasped and the free leg 22 is moved toward the stationary leg 23 a sulficient distance to clear the slot 20 then the staple 19 is passed through the slot 20 and the U- shaped member released, so that the outer end 2a of the catch passes between the plate 15 and the upper bar of the staple 19. T 0

remove the plate 15 from the body 8, the

above operation is reversed.

The outlet valve-7 comprises a curved tubular body 25, the outer surface of which conforms to the inner surface of the leg l and said body 25 is adapted-tobe fastened in the leg 4 by frictional engagement or by any other suitable means. The lower end of the body 25 is flanged at 26 to clamp a packing washer 27 to the flanged lower end 28 of the leg 4. The underside of the valve body 25 is apertured' at 29" and the underside of the inner surface of the body is formed to provide a valve seat 30 upon which rests aflap 31 to normally close the major portion of said aperture 29. This flap is located on the interior ofthe body 7 and its upper end is provided with ears 32 having holes 33 for the passage of pins 34 used in securing the flap to the valve body. These'pins arecarried by a plate 35 which conforms to the up per end of the valve body 25 and closes the upper end of the aperture 29. The pins also pass through orifices 36 in a web- 36', which extends across the aperture 29. Inorder to secure the plate 85 to the body 25, I pass a screw 37 from the upper side of the=body 25 through screw threaded aperturesBS' in the body and plate and as the outer surface of the valve body at the point where the screw passes through the same, is of the same conformation as the inner surface of the leg 4, it will be seen that the screw cannot be removed without withdrawing the valve 7 from the mouth piece. The upper side of the flap 81 is provided with a U-shapedspring 39, which engages the inner surface of the body 25 for the purpose of normally maintaining the flap 31 closed, and this spring is also of such strength as to permit the valve 7to be easily opened by exhalation. By arranging the aperture 29' on the underside ofthe body 25 itwill be seen that saliva or the like may readily enter theoutlet valve and pass down the exhalation pipe, whereit is ejected from the apparatus in" the usual manner.

I. wishit understood that valves may be used with devices other than mouth pieces and I do not wish to limit the scope of my invention to such application.

In operation, when the user inhales, he will only breathe the exhaled air contained in the tube 2 between the valves, while in former devices he inhales a large and objectionable amount of exhaled air. Also in the present device, the saliva and the like will be speedily ejected and will not be inhaled. It will also be apparent that my improved valves may be quickly removed from the apparatus, disassembled and cleaned, so that the device may be kept absolutely sanitarya \Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a tube having an opening intermediate its ends and inlet and: outlet legs, of a valve located in the inlet leg and having its inner end terminat ing in a nose for preventing: moisture and the like from passing into the inlet leg of the tube.

2. The combination with a tube having an opening intermediate its ends and inlet and outlet legs, of a valve located in the inlet leg and having its inner end terminating ina" nose for'preventing moisture and thelike from passing into the inlet leg, and an outlet valve located in the outlet leg to permit moisture'or the liketo pass out of the same.

3. The combination with a curved tube having an opening intermediate its ends 100 and inlet and outlet legs, of a valve located in the inlet leg and having its inner end: terminating in a nose for preventing moisture and the like from passing down the inlet leg of the tube.-

4. The combination with a curved tube having an opening intermediate its ends and inlet and outlet legs, of a member locatedin the inlet leg of said tube for preventing moisture or the like from passing 11.0 down the inlet leg.

5. The combination with a curved tube having inlet and outlet legs and provided intermediate its ends with a tubular mouth engaging member, of an inlet valve located 115 in said inlet leg and extending from the foot of the same to a position closely adjacent the mouth engaging member, and an outlet valve" arranged in' the-outlet leg and extend ing from the foot of the same to a position 120 gloselv adjacent said mouth engaging mem- 6. The combination with a tube having inlet and outlet legs and provided intermediate its ends with atubular mouth en- 125 gaging member, of an inlet valve removably secured in said inlet legv and extending. from the foot of the same to aposition closely adjacent themouth engaging, member, and an outlet valve removaoly arranged in the 130 outlet leg and extending from the foot of the same to a position closely adjacent said mouth engaging member.

7. The combination with a curved tube having inlet and outlet legs and provided with a tubular mouth engaging member, of a valve located in each of said legs and each having its bodyportion curved to conform to the inner surface of said legs.

8. The combination with a curved tube including inlet and outlet legs and provided intermediate its ends with a mouth engaging member, of valves located in each of said legs and each having a body portion curved to conform to the inner surface of said tube, one side of said body portion being formed into a valve seat, a plate cooperating with said seat, and means for normally maintaining said valve on its seat.

9. lhe combination with a curved tube including inlet and outlet legs and provided with a mouth engaging member, of an inlet valve located in the inlet leg and comprising a body portion curved to conform to the inner surface of the inlet leg and extending from the extremity of said leg to a posi tion closely adjacent to said mouth engaging member and there terminating in a nose forming a moisture dam, a valve seat in said body portion, a platecooperating with said seat for normally closing said valve, means for seating said valve, and an outlet valve located in the outlet leg of said tube.

10. A valve having a curved tubular body portion adapted to conform to the inner surface of a curved pipe and having its upper end terminating in a nose forming a moisture dam, a valve seat provided on the upper side of said body portion, a plate cooperating with said seat, and a spring interposed between said plate and the inner surface of the curved pipe.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE ELLIOT PERRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of l'atents, Washington, D. 0. 

